Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam, disillusioned with the North Korean regime, prepares to defect after a decade of service. But fate throws him a curveball when a fellow soldier, Kim Dong-hyuk, attempts escape first. Gyu-nam, caught trying to stop him, is branded a deserter.
Major Li Hyeon-sang, from State Security, recognizes Gyu-nam from their childhood. To maintain his own reputation, he spins a narrative portraying Gyu-nam as a hero. Promoted and assigned as a direct assistant, Gyu-nam sees this as a chance to solidify his escape plans.
Gyu-nam and Dong-hyuk attempt their break for freedom. Tragedy strikes when Major Li kills Dong-hyuk. Gyu-nam escapes across a treacherous minefield, reaching the DMZ just as dawn breaks. Exhausted but hopeful, he sees South Korean soldiers but is intercepted by Major Li, who delivers a cynical view of life in the South.
In a desperate struggle, Gyu-nam overpowers Li and makes a final dash for freedom. Reaching the white line signifying the border, he collapses from multiple gunshot wounds. South Korean troops arrive, forcing Li to retreat. Gyu-nam, finally in South Korea, gasps out his desire to defect.
One year later, Gyu-nam writes a business proposal, a symbol of his newfound freedom. He reunites with Dong-hyuk’s family, sharing memories of their fallen comrade. As news of his business approval arrives, Gyu-nam, a free man, walks towards a future filled with hope under the city’s vibrant skyline.
